Heavy gunfire reported near Venezuelan presidential palace following Maduro's arrest

Heavy gunfire erupted near Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Monday, with videos showing armoured security vehicles on streets while gunshots rang out. This comes days after US forces arrested Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores over alleged drug offences; the couple appeared in a New York court Monday. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in on Monday, now leads the oil-rich nation amid political uncertainty. The area is known for armed groups including pro-government paramilitaries (colectivos) and criminal organisations, though shootings are not uncommon in some Caracas neighbourhoods. Nigerian officials, including former Minister Akinyemi, have criticised the Tinubu government's silence on the crisis, while the UK has questioned the legality of US action. With Venezuela's political future in flux and possible collaborators being hunted, how will this unfolding crisis affect global oil markets and what does it mean for Nigeria's foreign policy stance?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/06/gunfire-reported-near-presidential-palace-in-venezuela/